Reminder, Monday Night – Talking at Lean Software Austin Gathering

As a former Austin resident (“Keep Austin Weird!”), I'm happy to be heading down I-35 from Fort Worth to attend the Lean Software Austin gathering on January 17, 2011.

What do I know about software? Not much. But I'll be there to talk about general lean culture and lean management methods, leading a discussion about the most appropriate way to learn from manufacturing practices – including my experience in helping healthcare people understand what applies and what's transferrable.

You can read the full description of the event or jump right to the registration event page. Post a comment if you think you'll be there.

From the event description:

Critics often mis-state lean principles or highlight cases of “lean done wrong” –  or what has been described as  L.A.M.E. or “Lean As Misguidedly Executed” an admittedly awkward acronym coined by this month's speaker. Organizations that mindlessly force tools on employees, use lean to drive layoffs, or focus on speed over quality, give “Real Lean” (a term coined by author  Bob Emiliani) a bad name.

Austin's Lean Software community welcomes Mark Graban, a blogger, author, and consultant for healthcare organizations that are embracing the Lean philosophy. Mark will share his experiences working with hospitals after beginning his career in the manufacturing sector. Starting the talk with a vivid case example from a hospital, we will have an informal discussion about the role of systems and processes in delivering quality, as well as the critical nature of a management system and culture in lean transformation efforts. Expect a robust discussion about the proper, thoughtful transfer of methods from one industry to another, including software and “lean startups.”

Hope to see you there.

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Mark Graban

Mark Graban is an internationally-recognized consultant, author, and professional speaker who has worked in healthcare, manufacturing, and startups. He is author of the Shingo Award-winning books Lean Hospitals and Healthcare Kaizen, as well as The Executive Guide to Healthcare Kaizen. His most recent book is the anthology Practicing Lean that benefits the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation, where Mark is a board member. Mark is also a Senior Advisor to the technology company KaiNexus. His latest book has been released as an "in-progress" book, titled Measures of Success.